Umbrella-exhibitor



(No Model.)

I. HARRINGTON & B. L. CARTER.

UMBRELLA EXHIBITOR.

No. 404,480. Patented June 4, 1889 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC HARRINGTON AND BENJAMIN L. CARTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

UMBRELLA-EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,480, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed October 11, 1888. Serial No. 287,871. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERIO HARRING- TON and BENJAMIN L. CARTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrella-Exhibitors; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to umbrella-exhibitors, and the object is to provide means whereby umbrellas may be exposed for exhibition in such a manner that each and all can be readily brought into convenient view before a purchaser and inspected and compared, and Where the relative size, quality, and price may be ascertained without removing the same from their support. Hitherto the only devices having these objects in view have been stands or racks, placed generally upon the floor and where the umbrellas could only be examined by handling them one at a time, thus producin g shop-wear, which would detract from their appearance and value, as well as be lacking in that artistic display which frequently is an incentive to purchase. By our arrangement the best possible effect is obtained in the exhibition of the goods, while the goods are preserved from the handling, which in time works serious' injury to their sale.

To these ends the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

111 the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our exhibitor or support with umbrellas thereon as in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a section of one of the end less chains and of the grooved wheels on which the chains are supported. Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the grips by which the body of the umbrella is held in the'chain.

In the views here shown we have preferably arranged the exhibitoras suspended from the ceilingover the counter, and to this end we have employed tubular brackets-A, screwed through flanges to the ceiling and having hollow elbows aat their bottom, which form bearings for a shaft B. Upon the shaft B are mounted, at suitable distance apart, two wheels C, having grooves 0 around their periphery. Upon the wheels C are swung two endless chains D, of equal length, and these chains are each provided alternately with grips E and staples F. The chains D are formed with fiat links, so that they will ride round on the wheels on the same surface, and the grips and staples are rigidly secured on the face of the chains through their stems e and f, respectively, so that they will stand out at right angles to the fiat surface of the chains and hold that relation when all the parts are mounted and at work.

The grips E are made of spring metal of such size as to grasp and hold the umbrella around its larger part near the handle, while the staples F are formed with eyes, into which the top of the umbrella is inserted. The wearing-surface of both holders is smooth, so as not to injure the finest fabric, and by the construction described thegreatest facility is afforded for removing and replacing the goods in the exhibitor. These holders are arranged at such distances apart that each umbrella is separately and fully exhibited to view, thus affording the best possible opportunity for striking contrasts and comparisons of merits.

Obviously, if preferred, a portable frame may be provided for supporting the exhibitor, and it maybe hung in a show-window or placed anywhere that convenience or taste may suggest; nor need the exact details herein shown and described be followed in every particular, the invention beingonlylimited bythe broader principles of construction covered by the claims. For example, a singledrum with an endless apron might be used instead of the two wheels and two separate chains, and the form of the holders for the umbrellas is susceptible of great variation.

The use of the term umbrellas is understood to cover parasols and the like, and the use of the term wheel or wheels covers such equivalent constructions, as a drum, or the like, above described, which would be practically the same thing.

' Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An 11mlmellwexhibitor consisting in an 151s and wheels on which said elmins arellnng, m endless carrier 01' carriers, and :1 wheel 01' substantially as set forth.

Wheels on which said carrier 01 carriers are In testimony whereof We here/111110 set 0111' supported, with holders for the umbrellas 011 hands This 0th clay of October, 1888. 5 the carrier er carriers, substantially as set FREDERIO 'IIA'RRINGION.

forth. BENJAMIN L. lAR'lEIi.

2. In an nmbrelln-exllibitel', endless ehm'ns, \Vitnrsses:

IRENE L. COREY, H. T. FISHER.

one of which has :1 spring-grip and the other :11 staple, with an eye F01. holding the umbrel- 

